Rope, chain, or wire stretcher.



J. S. SOUREK.

ROPE, CHAIN, 0R WIRE STRETGHE-R. APPLIOATION FILED 00110, 1908. RENEWEDMAY 27, 1910.

976,941 Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

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S AEN JOSEPH S. SOUBEK, OF BATH TOWNSHIP, SUMMIT COUNTY, OHIO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

Application filed October 10, 1908, Serial No. 457,094. Renewed May 27,1910. Serial No. 563,787.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH S. SOUREK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bath township, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio,have invented new and useful Improvements in Rope, Chain, or WireStretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for stretching rope, chains, cables,wire and the like and the object thereof is to provide a simple andeffective device for tightening or taking up an unlimited amount ofslack in rope, chain, wire or similar device embodying a bar adapted tobe suitably anchored provided with a clamp to prevent backward movementof the rope and a gripping lever mounted for oscillatory motion on saidbar arranged to stretch a rope or similar device and advance the slacktherein to said clamp, whereby the same is held during the rearward orinoperative movement of said lever.

A still further object of this invention is to produce a device for thepurpose described, which will be strong, safe, durable, easilyconstructed, readily applied and capable of performing in an'efficientmanner all the necessary functions of a device of this character.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists inthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of partsconstituting the invention to be hereinafter specifically described andillustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereofwherein is shown the preferred embodiment ofthe invention, illustratedby way of example in connection with a rope having attached thereto awire to be tightened, with the device anchored to a suitable support,but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modificationscan be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereuntoappended.

In the drawings, in which similar reference numerals indicate like partsin the different figures: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a deviceembodying this invention, shown in operative relation with respect to arope adapted to tighten a wire. Fig. 2 is a vertical, central,longitudinal, sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 1; and, Fig. 3is a perspective view of the end of the device looking from the left inFig. 1.

Before entering upon a detailed description of this invention, it willbe stated that in the specification and claims, the word rope will beused generically to designate any type of similar device such as achain, hawser, cable, wire or wire rope in order to save unnecessaryrepetition.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the reference numerals 1, 1,denote spaced companion bars adapted to support the mechanism to behereinafter described. Extending between the bars 1, 1, at one end ofthe device is a cylindrical member 2 constituting a rope guide. Adjacentthis rope guide 2 and preferably formed integral with the bars 1, l, isan upwardly-extending frame 3 provided with an aperture 26, preferablyinclined, through which the rope may be passed and constituting anauxiliary guide therefor. Adjacent the guide 8 and extending between thespacing members 1, 1, is a pin 4, mounted on which is the lower end of agripping lever consisting of a lower portion provided with a suitableaperture to receive the pin 4 and having integral, lateral members, 5,5, between which extends an integral, preferably serrated, jaw 6 shownbest in Fig. 2. Positioned above the jaw 6 and extending between themembers 5, 5, is a pin 7, pivotally-mounted on which is the lower end ofa lever 8 having a socket 9 in which is secured, by means of bolts orpins 10, the lower end of an operating handle 11. The jaw 8 has itslower face preferably provided with a plurality of serrations 12 adaptedto coiiperate with the serrated jaw 6 for engaging a rope, chain orsimilar device and to grip the same when the handle is moved in thedirection of the arrow in Fig. 2 and to release its gripping action onthe rope when the handle is moved in a reverse direction. Extendingbetween the members 5, 5, above the lever 8 is a pin 13 constituting astop for arresting the outward movement of the lower end of the lever 8when it is on its return stroke and free from gripping relation with therope. Extending between the spaced members 1, 1, and in advance of thepin 4 is a pin 14 mounted on which is a hook 15 designed to constitutemeans for securing the device to a suitable anchorage, as clearly shownin Fig. 1, but it will be apparent that other means such as a loop orother similar or equivalent device may be employed in place of the hook14. Extending between the companion members 1, l, in the rear of the 1united at their outer ends by an integral cross bar 21. Extendingbetween the side members of the frame 18 is a pin 22 on which is'mounted 7 amovable jaw member 23 having the upper portion thereofpreferably formed with serrated teeth 24, coiiperating with the jaw 19in clamping a rope. The lower portion of the member 23 is provided witha pair of spaced lugs 25 properly apertured to receive the pin 14 onwhich the memher 23 is pivoted. The lugs 25 are spaced apart so that insetting up the device the hook 15 can be positioned between them on thepin 14. The member 23 is also provided with an ou-tward ly-extendingfinger or trip 5 27 adapted to move in the space inclosed by theparallel arms 20 and the cross bar 21 and to normally lie in transverse,parallel relation therewith One of the means for employing this deviceis -as follows and is illustrated in Fig. 1

in which the device is used in drawing up the slack or tightening thewires 28 of a fence, provided with ordinary supporting p0sts'29. Inusing this device experience has demonstrated that it is preferable touse a short piece of rope in immediate relation with the device and tosecure the wire to be stretched to the rope and thereby avoid anycrimping or abrading of thesurfaee of the wire by the grippingelementscarried by the device. The rope ispreferably passed, although notnecessarily, under the cylindrical member 2 and upward through theopening 26 in the guide 3 between the jaws '6 and 8 of the grippinglever and from thence outwardly between the serrated portions of thejaws 19 and 23. After this, a wire to be stretched, is suitablyconnected with the rear end of the rope, as clearly shown in Fig. 1

and a suitable instrumentality connects the hook 15 with a suitableanchorage such as the post shown 1n the same figure. The operator thengrasps the rope n advance of the clamp mounted on the pin 14 and drawsup all possible slack. He then moves the handle 11 rearwardly until thelower jaw 6 encounters the guide 3. The handle '11 is then moved in thedirection 'ofthe arrow in Fig. 2 which-causes the serrated faces of thejaws 6 and 8 to tightly grip the rope and advance-ittowardthe clampcarried by the pin 14." As fast .as' the rope isadvanced by means of thelever carried on the handle 11, it is drawn freely through the clamp onthe pin let by the other hand of the operator, thereby keeping the ropebetween the lever and the clamp taut at all times. As soon as the handle11 has been advanced toward the clamp as far as possible, the operatorreverses the movement of the handle, which movement separates the jaws 6and 8, releasing their hold upon the rope which causes, simultaneouslytherewith, a gripping action of the serrated faces 19 and 2 on the same,due to the tension of the rope, which by this time will exert a requiredpull on the rope clamp to cause it to engage operatively the ropegplaced therein. This movement of the handle 11 is kept up untilsufiicient tension has been imposed upon the wire, after which the wireis secured fixedly in position by suitable holdfast means .to a post andthe handle 11 moved to inoperative position, releasing its grip on therope. In order to release the rope from tension to permit the removal ofthe device, a slight pressure downwardly upon the trip 27 will separatethe members of the clamp carried by the pin let sufficiently to relieveall tension thereon. The upper member 8 of the lever is held inposition, when thrown backward, by means of the stop or pin 13constituting an abutment therefor.

Vilat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device for stretching ropes and the like comprising a pair ofspaced companion bars, a plurality of pins extending between said bars,one of said pins positioned near the front ends of said bars, a ropeclamp provided with a manually-operable releasing mechanismpivotally-mounted on said latter pin, a member also mounted on said pinconstituting an anchorage for said device, a gripping lever mounted onone of said pins between said bars consisting of a lower portionprovided with means to receive said pin having a fixed jaw and with alateral member integral therewith, a pin carried by said lateral member,a lever provided with a rope-gripping jaw adapted to cotiperate withsaid fixed jaw pivotally-mounted on the pin 011 said lateral member,said jaws, adapted when moved in one direction, to grip and advance arope toward said clamp and inop erative when the movement of said leveris reversed, a pin constituting an abutment carried by said lateralmember adapted to limit the inoperative movement of said lever and arope guide positioned rearwardly of said gripping lever for directingthe passage of a rope or the like to the aws carried by said lever.

2. A device for stretching ropes and the like comprising a pair ofspaced companion bars, a plurality of pins extending between said bars,one of said pins positioned near the front ends of said bars, arope-clamp provided with a manually-operable releasing mechanismpivotally-mounted on said latter pin, a member also mounted on said pinconstituting an anchorage for said device, a gripping lever also mountedon one of said pins between said bars consisting of a lower portionprovided with means to receive said pin having a fixed jaw and with alateral member integral therewith, a pin carried by said lateral membera lever provided with a rope-gripping jaw adapted to cooperate with saidfixed jaw pivotallymounted on the pin on said lateral member,

said jaws adapted when moved in one direction to grip and advance a ropetoward said clamp and inoperative when the movement of said lever isreversed and a pin constituting an abutment carried by said lateralmember adapted to limit the inoperative movement of said lever.

I11 testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesse's.

JOSEPH S. SOUREK. Witnesses:

C. E; HUMPHREY, GLENARA Fox.

